Water-wheel.



No. 833,526. PATENTED OCT. 16, 1906.

P. W. HUBBR'Gz'G. P. FOLSOM.

WATER WHEEL.

urmonmu FILED AUG.17,1906.

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v No. 833,526. I PATENTED OGT.16, 1906. F. W. HUBER & G P. POLSOM.

WATER WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17,1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. HUBER AND CLARENCE P. FOLSOM, OF DAYTON, OHIO,

DAYTON, OHIO.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

WATER-WHEEL.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

Application filed August 17. 1905- Serial No- 274,550.

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK W. HUBER and CLARENCE P. FoLsoM, citizens of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Wheels; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in turbine water-wheels ofthe swivel-gate typethat is to say, the type employing a number of swivel-gates which are independently operated on their axes to introduce the water to the wheel or runner or to shut off the Water from said wheel or runner.

The present invention relates to means for operating these gates through the longitudinal movement of a main actuating-rod arranged on the wheel-casing.

Preceding a more detailed description of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a horizontal water-wheel system upon which our improved gate-operating mechanism is employed. Fig. 2 is an end elevation on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the lineacmofFig. 2. w

In a detail description of the invention similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

' 1 designates the water-wheel housing or flume, and 2 designates the draft-tube discharging therefrom, both of which are assembled and united in a well-known manner.

3 designates end crown-plates, upon the inner sides of which are pivotally mounted a plurality of swivel-gates 4 by means of pivots 5. These crown-plates are stationary upon the turbine-shaft 6 and are bolted or otherwise made rigid. The means employed for operating these swivel-gates consist, primarily, of a ring 7, which has a rotary reciproeating movement around the crown-plate 3. On the inner side of said ring 7 there is a plurality of cam-grooves 8, which have a suitable inclination and extend across said ring. Each of the swivel-gates 4 has upon its outer end by meansof a pivotal connection a block 9, which is confined within a cam-groove 8 and has sliding movement therein according to the movement imparted to the ring 7, the movements of said ring being sufficient to entirely open the swivel-gates in one direction and to close said gates in the opposite direction. This movement is imparted to the ring 7 from the longitudinal reciprocating movement of the actuating-rod 10. This rod may be located in any suitable position either above or on the side of the wheel-casing, or one of'such rods may be employed-on each side of the wheel-casing. The side mounting is preferable, and such position is illustrated in the drawings. This'actuating-rod 10 has a suitable number of bearings 1 1, located at proper points, and the longitudinal reciprocating movement may be imparted to said rod in any suitable manner. In the present adaptation of the mechanism a rack 12 is shown connected with said rod, and suitable movement isimparted to said rod through this rack by means of a pinion 13. The movement is transmitted from the rod to one or more rings 7 through bell-crank levers 14, which have their fulcrums 16 upon suitable bearings 18. The vertical arm of each of these levers is coupled to an adjustable head 19 by means of link 20, the head 19 being rigidly connected with the actuating-rod 10, so as to be movable therewith. The horizontal arm 15 of each of said bell-crank levers is pivotally connected to ring 7 by means of a link 21, the upper end of which is pivotally connected at 22 to a spider 23 or bracket, which may or may not span the diameter of the ring 7, loosely incloses the turbine-shaft 6, and is rigidly attached at 24 to the ring.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the longitudinal movements of the actuating-rod 10 will impart to the bell-crank lever or levers movement in the direction of the movement of the rod, and such movements will be likewise imparted to the ring or rings 7 and in turn to the swivel-gates 4. The advantages of operating these swivelgates through longitudinal movements of the rod 10 are as follows: first, the torsional IOC effect found in the rotating shaft as usually employed for operating this type of gate is entirely eliminated; secondly, the use of gears or racks and segments in the water commonly used in connection with the rotating shaft is eliminated. The gears working in water where they come in contact with more or less grit, sand, &c., are subjected to a great deal of wear and cause lost motion, thus making the governing of turbines fitted with this type of gate when operated by the rotating shaft a very diflicult matter. A further advantage due to the present means of operating this type of water-wheel gate is due to the fact that the gates on each turbine or two or more turbines are operated uniformly, so that all gates close or open alike.

Having described our invention, we claim 1. In a water-wheel, the combination with gate-operating rings, and a wheel-casing, of actuating mechanism for said rings consisting of a longitudinally-reciproeating rod mounted on the outside of and parallel with the wheel-casing and extending the length of said wheel-casing, heads connected upon said reciprocating rod, bell-crank levers having one arm connected to each of said heads by means of a link, a link connected to the lower arm of each of said bell-crank levers,

2. In a water-wheel, the combination with a flume or Wheel casing, and gate-actuating rings mounted at opposite ends of said casing, of a horizontally-disposed reciprocating rod mounted on one side of and parallel with said wheel-casing and extending from one actuating-ring to the other, two oppositelydisposed bell-crank levers, one at each end of said wheel-casing, the vertical arms of said bell-crank levers each having an adjustable link connection with the reciprocating rod, a link connected with the horizontal arm of each of said bell-crank levers, said links having pivotal connections with the gate-actuating rings at each end of the wheel-casing,

.and means for imparting longitudinally-reciprocating movement to said rod, as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof we afIiX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK W. HUBER. CLARENCE P. FOLSOM.

Witnesses:

CAROLYN M. THEOBALD, R. J. MGCARTY. 

